Another shark attack
Another shark attack
The 42-year-old victim believed to be British lost most of his right leg and part of his left foot after being attacked as he swam off the coast of South Africa.
And incredibly, the shadowy figure of a lone shark patrolling the bay was captured on film just minutes after the attack.
The man, who regularly swam at the spot, had entered the water despite flags warning that a shark was in the area.
He was attacked just 50m off the beach.
A member of the public bravely dragged the maimed swimmer from the water and shocked bystanders watched from a hill overlooking the bay as a helicopter rushed the victim to hospital.
A Cape Town official said: "The shark spotter stationed on the beach was warned by a spotter on the mountain that someone had entered the water.
"The shark spotter then ran to Clovelly Corner to try and get the swimmer out of the water, but the attack took place before he could reach him."
The man is thought to be an expat who has lived in the city for several years.
The National Sea Rescue Institute said he ignored explicit orders not to enter the water.
They said in a statement: "On arrival on scene a 42-year-old man was found on the shore suffering complete amputation of his right leg, above the knee, and partial amputation of his left leg, below the knee.
"The man was stabilised on scene by paramedics and airlifted to Constantiaberg Medi-Clinic hospital by helicopter in a critical condition but he is now believed to have been stabilised.
"The man was conscious when paramedics attended to him on the beach but was sedated on scene by paramedics in their efforts to stabilise the patient.
"From what we understand the City of Cape Town shark spotters had flown the 'sharks present - no swimming' flags since early this morning and bathers to Fish Hoek and the individual had personally been warned by the shark spotters not to swim due to the presence of at least three Wh! ite Shar ks visible in the water close in shore."
Local reports suggested the shark had been spotted several times prior to today's attack at Clovelly Beach near the popular holiday resort of Fish Hoek, on the outskirts of Cape Town.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said: "It is a fact that there are sharks in the water around Cape Town.
"This morning there was an alarm raised when a shark was sighted, and the beaches were closed.
"In practice, though, you cannot physically stop people from entering the water."
In January last year Zimbabwean tourist Lloyd Skinner, 47, was eaten alive as he swam off Fish Hoek's main beach.
Shocked witnesses watched as he was pulled under the surface. Rescuers searched for his body but only found his goggles.
And last month South African surfer Tim van Heerden, 49, died after being bitten as he rode the waves in Plettenberg Bay.
Officials say around six people are attacked each year by sharks around South Africa's coastline but only around ten per cent are fatal.
The latest attack comes just weeks after Brit Ian Redmond, 30, was killed by a shark while on honeymoon.
The IT specialist died last month after being bitten as he snorkelled in the Seychelles.
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